Bill Gates’ philanthropic organization, the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, is making an about-face on its education priorities to focus on networks of traditional public schools aimed at improving student achievement.

A new school funding formula in Illinois, signed into law by Gov. Bruce Rauner in August, is being hailed as a historic first step toward making sure more state dollars go to the public schools that need it the most.

Educators who are ready to begin purchasing materials and supplies for the upcoming school year will have significantly more spending money thanks to a hard-fought increase in City Council funding for Teacher’s Choice.

Republicans joined Democrats in a tough grilling of U.S. Education Secretary Betsy DeVos about the devastating impact of President Trump’s proposal to slash $9.2 billion from the 2018 education budget in a Senate hearing on June 6.

The Trump administration’s proposed education budget strips $10.6 billion from federal education initiatives and channels part of those savings into so-called “school choice” programs, including $400 million to expand charter schools and vouchers for private and religious schools.

It took a little longer, but our hard work yielded results: The new state budget increases education aid by $1.1 billion, which includes $700 million in additional foundation aid for school districts. Prekindergarten, community schools and after-school programs all get a boost in support.

Public education in New York will get an additional $1.1 billion in the new state budget, while two UFT-supported provisions from the previous budget remain intact, making it possible for public schools to retain much-needed funds.

The Kansas Supreme Court has ruled unanimously that the state, yet again, is not providing adequate funding for public schools. The court ordered lawmakers to devise a plan that would meet constitutional standards by the end of June.

President Donald Trump on March 16 took the first step to make good on his campaign promise to shift federal tax dollars from traditional public schools to a “choice” program that promotes charters, private and religious schools.

Connecticut Gov. Daniel Malloy’s proposal to redistribute state school funding from wealthier areas to struggling cities has sparked opposition from well-off towns that are concerned about footing more of the bill.

UFT President Michael Mulgrew urged state lawmakers on Feb. 14 in Albany to fully fund the foundation aid that New York City schools need — and to extend and enhance the millionaire’s tax to help pay for it.

New York State levied a millionaire’s tax in 2009, just as the financial crisis and the ensuing recession hit. It brought in $4 billion annually to the state’s coffers just as tax receipts were drying up.

At the UFT’s annual Legislative Reception at the Corning Tower Observation Deck in Albany, nearly 200 state government officials and other guests got a bird’s-eye view of the capital and an overall look at the union’s legislative priorities for the upcoming fiscal year.